Bologna coach Vincenzo Italiano admitted his preference to avoid an all-Italian Europa League encounter with Roma, but affirmed his team’s determination to “tease some weaknesses out of them tomorrow.” The highly anticipated match is scheduled for Thursday at 17:45 GMT (18:45 CET) at the Stadio Dall’Ara.
The Europa League draw proved challenging for Italian clubs, ensuring at least one representative in the quarter-finals while simultaneously eliminating the other early. Bologna’s season has seen varied form, starting poorly in 2026, then experiencing a successful run of victories, only to falter again last weekend with a home defeat to bottom-of-the-table Hellas Verona.
Italiano Expresses Mixed Feelings About All-Italian Europa League Tie
“We have already put that match behind us,” Italiano assured during his press conference. He continued, “Roma have some weaknesses, and we hope to exploit those tomorrow. As I’ve said before, I had hoped for a different draw, because both teams could have advanced far in this competition together, but now one of the two Italian sides must exit. We have been inconsistent in our home games lately, but we hope to change that tomorrow.”
Providing an update on player fitness, the coach confirmed that Juan Miranda and Torbjorn Heggem have returned to training, though their availability for a starting spot remains uncertain. Italiano hinted that Tommaso Pobega has a “very good chance” of making the starting XI, potentially allowing Thijs Dallinga to step in and give Santiago Castro a well-deserved rest before their crucial Serie A fixture against Sassuolo.
Italiano acknowledged Roma’s strong defensive capabilities and praised striker Donyell Malen, who he believes has been performing exceptionally well and provides a vital attacking outlet for their aggressive style of play. He noted his familiarity with Malen from an earlier season match against his former club, Aston Villa. The coach then shifted focus to express profound respect for Gian Piero Gasperini, citing him as a role model for all coaches due to his numerous trophy wins and consistent delivery of attractive football. When asked if the two coaches might share dinner, Italiano humorously replied, “We’d need a restaurant that stayed open late, because we’d have so much to talk about!”
The return leg of the tie will take place next week at the Stadio Olimpico, where Bologna previously suffered a 1-0 loss to Roma in the opening game of the Serie A season last August. “I am not thinking about the second leg right now, because after tomorrow we already have another Serie A match to play, so there’s time for that,” Italiano stated. “Obviously, it won’t be an easy atmosphere for us at the Olimpico, but we are well aware of that. The challenge with an Italian derby is that we know each other so very well. It’s a new experience for me too, facing another Italian side in Europe.”
Bologna’s home record has emerged as one of the most surprising aspects of their current campaign. Since the beginning of December 2025, they have secured only three victories at the Stadio Dall’Ara across all competitions, alongside two draws and eight defeats.
“I analysed all those games, and some we deserved to lose, while with others we could’ve won with a bit more concentration,” Italiano explained. “The attitude is not the issue, but we are paying a heavy price for certain distractions, and we have time to rectify it. We did win five games after that difficult period, and a result like the one against Verona can happen; in Serie A, anyone can beat anyone else, it’s always a struggle. We tend to have more difficulty against teams who allow us to control the game, leading us to become a bit too complacent in our preventative marking. Tomorrow is a significant opportunity for us to progress in Europe, but we won’t be able to truly judge the season until the very end.”
